Classic Cinema: Three Ages (1923)

“…..the only thing that has not changed since the world began is LOVE.”

The first feature length film that Buster Keaton wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, 1923’s Three Ages tells us a timeless tale of love. It is the same story told across three different time periods: stereotypical caveman times, Ancient Rome, and the modern era (in this case, the 1920s). In each story, all of which are laced together and play out in divided segments, the Boy (Keaton) falls for the Girl (Margaret Leahy), who is also being heavily courted by the Villain (Wallace Beery). The Villain also happens to be the choice of the Girl’s parents (Joe Roberts and Lillian Lawrence). The Boy attempts to best the Villain in a number of hilarious sequences.

The Boy challenges the Villain to hand-to-hand combat in the caveman era, a chariot race in Ancient Rome, and a game of football in the modern era. He also uses jealousy to try and draw the Girl away from the Villain. In one of my favorite moments in the film, the Boy pretends to fall for the Amazon (the uncredited Blanche Payson, who towers over Keaton at 6’4″ tall), and ends up in trouble with the imposing lady. Other excellent moments include Keaton’s brilliant maneuvering in order to score a touchdown and the complete destruction of his car as he races to beat the Villain to the Girl’s home.

The most iconic moment in the film takes place during a police chase through the modern city. The Boy attempts to jump from one building to another and fails, falling through awnings and eventually landing in a firehouse. While performing the stunt, Keaton was supposed to make it to the other building but crashed into the side of the building instead. He fell down into a net and was injured, missing three days of work. When he returned to the set after recovering, he loved the look of the failed pratfall so much that he expanded upon it. It has become the most referenced moment from Three Ages.

The film as a whole didn’t fare very well with contemporary critics. Many of them found the story too expansive, especially for a Keaton film, and they believed that the comedy suffered as a result. They also criticized the performance of Leahy. Others loved the slapstick segments but believed that the plot was too convoluted. For myself, I really enjoyed this film. Keaton delivers plenty of laughs and executes some hilarious stunts.

Sadly, this would be the only feature film in Margaret Leahy’s career. She was previously cast in Within The Law (1923), but was unceremoniously fired by director Frank Lloyd, who also told her that she needed to lose ten pounds. After working on Three Ages, Leahy failed to secure more roles and would eventually become an interior decorator. She died of an apparent suicide in 1967 at the age of sixty-four.

I definitely recommend watching Three Ages. It’s a very funny film that highlights Buster Keaton’s amazing stunt and slapstick work.

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